CE110 - Policy and Governance

*adjudicated basin

a groundwater basin that has had stakeholders take their case to the courts to settle disputes; a judge’s ruling governs the basins operations and how much each party can extract

*private utility

a utility that is owned by investors, rather than local taxpayers or ratepayers

dependent management

a governance structure where a utility reports to a city council or board of supervisors who are elected for general management of the city (i.e., not focused solely on the utility’s purpose) and/or to a commission appointed to address the utility’s concerns by those elected leaders; utility funds may be co-mingled with other municipal agencies.

*independent management

a governance structure where a utility (usually a special district) reports to an elected board dedicated solely towards the utility’s purpose; has an independent budget & often has technical expertise in the utility’s purpose

*maximum contaminant level (MCL)

The maximum allowable level of a contaminant regulated under the SDWA. It should be set as close to the MCLG as possible, taking into account cost. (SDWA)

*maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG)

the level at which a contaminant has no known adverse health effects (with an adequate margin of safety) (SDWA)

*constituents of emerging concern (CECs)

Trace contaminants that are present in very low concentrations and are not currently regulated under SDWA, and may present concerns for human or environmental health. Includes pharmaceuticals and personal care products, some of which are endocrine disruptors.

*Contaminant Candidate List (CCL).

List updated by EPA every 5 years, consisting of contaminants that are under evaluation for regulation under SDWA.

*public benefits charge

a fixed surcharge on water rates that could be used to support innovation (R&D, reducing the cost of new technologies, and water conservation practices)

*State Revolving Funds (SRF)

fund administered by each state to provide low-interest loans for water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure and non-point source pollution control

integrated regional water management (IRWM)

california program w the philosophy to integrate water resources planning

goals:

• integrate storm, waste, and fresh-water management systems

• integrate water resources activities between water utilities, urban planners, local leaders… etc… big water utilities, small water utilities..

• share resources & expertise to tackle critical issues & secure state funding

• increase regional responsiveness

special district

specially-created government entities that cross conventional political boundaries and are managed by a structure separate from cities and counties

(may include irrigation districts. EBMUD is an example)

California Department of Water Resources

• operates State Water Project’s aqueducts, reservoirs, etc.

  manages flood control and watersheds 

  coordinates Urban Water Management Planning process and statewide water planning

  
  

State Water Resources Control Board

think quality CONTROL

• protects water quality, ecosystems and habitat

• monitors drinking water quality

• manages state revolving funds for drinking water and clean water (including recycled water)

• during drought: sets conservation standards for utilities; verifies supply resilience

• responsible for implementing water affordability program

Department of Interior - Bureau of Reclamation

(Include the CA water project it manages)

constructs/operates federal water projects, including the Central Valley Project, dam safety

Colorado river watermaster

Environmental Protection Agency

administers all federal environmental law

provide technical guidance and funding for water systems

provides educational programs for water-related programs (EPA WaterSense)

DOI - Fish and Wildlife

provide regulation for endangered species